December 30th, at Ren Suo's House.

Ren Xingmei, Lin Xianyu, Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, Bai Ji, and Gu Yuexuan gathered around to watch the sleeping Ren Suo.

Dong Chengling asked, "Are you ready? Have you chosen your part?"

Qiao Muyi pressed her hands on Ren Suo's temples, a slight smile curling her lips, and said, "I'll take the head."

Ren Xingmei grabbed Ren Suo's left hand, unapologetically stating, "I want the left hand."

Dong Chengling clenched Ren Suo's right hand and said softly, "Then...I'll take the right hand."

Lin Xianyu pressed down on Ren Suo's left leg. "I'll take the left leg. It's just like Big Brother Ren, never going out, his feet are as pale as mine..."

Bai Ji, left with little choice, gently grasped Ren Suo's right ankle. "I'll take the right leg then."

Gu Yuexuan, not very familiar with Ren Suo and not really eligible to participate in this feast, could only look on eagerly from the side.

Dong Chengling said, "Then, let's all make our move at the same time, to avoid uneven distribution."

Everyone nodded. "No problem."

"Alright, three...two...one!"

The surging Qi Cyclone spun wildly, and the active Inner Spiritual Qi divided among the five people's hands, flowing into Ren Suo's body! The five orderly streams of Spiritual Energy entered Ren Suo's body. With only a thought, a Spell circuit, and a second's time, these energies could transform into raging Energy, turn into frosty flames, and set off tempests, slicing this peacefully sleeping being into five neat parts! However, the anticipated event did not occur.

The five streams of Spiritual Energy gently impacted the Qi Cyclone inside Ren Suo's body, which immediately reacted automatically, increasing its rotation speed and absorbing these five shares of Spiritual Energy into the external cyclone for assimilation.

Everyone stared intently at Ren Suo's sleeping face, but no matter how long they watched, the rosy-cheeked Ren Suo showed no response.

"It failed again," Lin Xianyu released his hand, shaking his head resignedly.

Dong Chengling said, "Whether this healing method is effective or not, it seems to be useless for these Sleepers."

Gu Yuexuan also sighed, saying, "I'm sorry for giving you hope, only to disappoint you again."

This 'Five-Part Spiritual Energy Stimulus Method' was a special treatment found at Sky Capital's Transcendent medical institutions by Instructor Gu Wenyi. It was primarily for use on Awakeners who were comatose, newly Awakened, or severely injured. The method involved five cultivators emitting gentle Spiritual Energy from the comatose person's five extremities (head, two hands, two feet) to stimulate the comatose person's Qi Cyclone, provoking it into rotating and thus leading to bodily awakening. This treatment was currently only being employed at Sky Capital's medical institutions and within the Yellow River and Yangtze River Supernatural Squads during its implementation phase and was still under research and improvement.

"According to the data, a comatose person's Qi Cyclone is usually in a dormant state, requiring prolonged stimulation to gradually get it moving," Qiao Muyi shook her head, gently massaging Ren Suo's temples, and said, "But Ren Suo's Qi Cyclone has always been active, rendering our stimulation pointless."

"Has there been any information about 'Trial Participants' from Instructor Gu's side?"

Gu Yuexuan immediately nodded. "Deputy Director Qiao, you know about that too? My dad also received the information. The 'Trial Participants' mentioned in the Tactical Bureau's internal memo must be referring to Ren Suo and my sister."

"Trial Participants?" Lin Xianyu and Ren Xingmei, completely unaware of this, eagerly asked.

That morning, Qiao Muyi of the Lianjiang Countermeasure System received a notice from her superiors that the medical and tactical systems needed to submit the intelligence files of all those who had fallen into a coma around Christmas, citing that 'the comatose may be linked with a mysterious trial.' Those who knew the internal details immediately connected Ren Suo and Gu Yueyan's situation with the supposed 'mysterious trial.' However, as the deputy director of the Lianjiang branch, Qiao Muyi couldn't access more information and could only hope for news from Gu Wenyi's side.

"Dad doesn't know much either," Gu Yuexuan said. "This matter seems to have come from the Great Wall. Although Dad's position at Tactical Headquarters isn't low, he can't reach into the Great Wall."

Faced with the Mysterious Country's most high-end and mysterious violent organization, the Great Wall, everyone felt helpless. Dong Chengling sighed. "If I had joined the Great Wall back then..."

"It's not too late now," Qiao Muyi glanced at her. "As a Fourth Level Space Cultivator, if you weren't so determined to stay here, you could have joined the Great Wall long ago."

"I'm not bothered in the slightest," Dong Chengling said lightly.

She looked at the unconscious form of Ren Suo lying before her and, after a few seconds of silence, said, "If joining the Great Wall is the only way to obtain more information, I..."

"Tsk." Qiao Muyi narrowed her eyes and glared at her, but Dong Chengling calmly met her gaze.

Several seconds passed, then Qiao Muyi suddenly asked Ren Xingmei, "His phone."

Ren Xingmei immediately went to the bedroom and brought back Ren Suo's phone. Qiao Muyi pressed a few buttons to unlock it, causing everyone else's eyebrows to jump. Qiao Muyi operated Ren Suo's phone for several minutes while the others remained silent, patiently waiting. Over the past few days, Qiao Muyi had run back and forth between the Tactical Bureau and the Heavenly Lotus Academy for Ren Suo and Gu Yueyan. Everyone had witnessed this and naturally trusted that her actions had profound meaning.

Suddenly, Qiao Muyi slightly frowned, put down the phone, and said, "The news from the Great Wall came from the Federal Watcher."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this trial might end in the next two days," she stated.

"Really?" Gu Yuexuan quickly asked. "My sister might wake up in two days?"

Qiao Muyi gently nodded.

The others also heaved sighs of relief, their spirits lifting. Lin Xianyu, curious, asked, "Sister Qiao, where did you get this information?"

"Shh, it's a secret." Qiao Muyi put her index finger to her lips and smiled. "But I can assure you, the source is absolutely reliable."

With that, everyone finally felt at ease. Gu Yuexuan immediately took his leave, ready to call his father. Bai Ji, Lin Xianyu, and Ren Xingmei stayed a little longer before they also left. Only Dong Chengling, Qiao Muyi, and the two unconscious Trial Participants remained in the house.

Qiao Muyi was also about to leave, but Dong Chengling's occasional glances, filled with the pressure of a Fourth-Stage Cultivator's Telekinesis, made her stay.

Once only the two of them were awake in the house, Dong Chengling finally asked, "It was You Jiu, right?"

Qiao Muyi silently nodded.

In their circle, she, Dong Chengling, and Bai Ji had all had contact with people from the Great Wall, but the only one who had formed a friendship with someone from there was Ren Suo. Moreover, his friend was the currently renowned 'Taoist' You Jiu from the Great Wall. Ren Suo mostly connected with You Jiu through online chats. Qiao Muyi, upon opening Ren Suo's WeChat, immediately found You Jiu, saved under the nickname 'Hunchback Sword Bone'. Mimicking Ren Suo's style of speaking—impersonating him was a piece of cake for her—she began to draw information from You Jiu.

The information about the 'Trial Participants' wasn't exactly secret. It seemed You Jiu was also on his phone at the time, and Qiao Muyi's skill at extracting information was far beyond what a mere 'dead hunchback' like him could discern. You Jiu quickly revealed some yet-to-be-published details. This information wasn't considered highly classified mainly because its relevance was short-lived; it would be outdated in a couple of days.

Dong Chengling asked again, "Is there anything else you haven't said?"

Qiao Muyi looked at Dong Chengling and said nothing.

Dong Chengling sat down beside Qiao Muyi, gently placed her left hand over Qiao Muyi's hands which were holding the phone, and her right hand on Qiao Muyi's shoulder, softly saying, "You don't have to bear the pressure alone. Like you, I am a calm adult, and we are both important to him..."

"Don't parade your educational psychology in front of me," Qiao Muyi glanced at Dong Chengling, annoyed. "I am not your student!"

"But you are my friend," Dong Chengling said gently.

Qiao Muyi tsked but didn't shake off Dong Chengling's hand. After a few seconds, she slowly said, "They will finish the trial in these next two days."

"Hmm."

"You Jiu mentioned that, according to information from the Watcher, if things go poorly, the end of the trial could very likely trigger a huge disaster..."

"Of course, I don't care what kind of disaster it is, but if it does occur, then... all Trial Participants will inevitably perish."

Dong Chengling remained very calm. "And the likelihood?"

"Very high, extremely high. It's clear the Watcher had prior knowledge of the trial details, but they only informed the Great Wall just before the trial's end. That certainly wasn't to show off, but as a... warning. It's likely the Watcher can no longer secure victory in the trial," Qiao Muyi explained. "The Watcher and the Great Wall surely have more intelligence exchanges, but You Jiu didn't elaborate."

"Moreover, a trial is, by its nature, for selecting suitable candidates. So, after the suitable candidates are chosen, what fate awaits the other Trial Participants?"

"This trial is different from the Three Gods Priest's trial. Working backward from the possibility that the trial could cause a disaster, one can deduce that this trial is definitely not some benevolent, friendly competition, but very likely a life-and-death battle..."

Dong Chengling said, "Suo will protect himself and Xiao Yan."

"Yes, I thought so too, which is why I didn't share this news." Qiao Muyi put down Ren Suo's phone and said, "Bai Ji probably guessed as well, but he, like us, believes in Xiao Suo."

"Fortunately, up to now, their bodies are both very healthy and normal. As long as they get through these two days..."

At this moment, Qiao Muyi felt a comforting itch on her scalp and turned her head to find Dong Chengling actually stroking her hair!

Qiao Muyi quickly brushed away Dong Chengling's hand and cautiously asked, "What are you trying to do?"

"Comforting you," Dong Chengling smiled. "You are not like me, nor like Bai Ji... We all firmly believe in Suo's personal Ability, but you prefer to have everything under your control."

"With situations like this, where you can't intervene, your heart must be quite troubled, right?"

Dong Chengling was right.

Once an enemy of the world in another timeline, genuinely powerful enough to crush a host of Fourth-Stage Cultivators, and believing herself second to none, Qiao Muyi had always thought she had the Ability to secure happiness—no Hero would appear to hinder the Demon King's joy anymore.

However, now, an unknown trial had directly ruined her beautiful Christmas Eve and might even sever her future. She was completely powerless over this, only able to watch helplessly, hoping for Ren Suo's personal struggle and the course of history.

This uncontrollable Destiny was something she was truly... sick of.

"You don't have to endure this alone." Dong Chengling gently stroked Qiao Muyi's hair and said, "Whatever happens, I always consider you my sister."

"Sister?" Qiao Muyi glanced at Dong Chengling and pointed towards the master bedroom, sarcastically asking, "Whatever happens? Really?"

Qiao Muyi's implication was clearly understood by Dong Chengling. She calmly nodded. "With or without him, I will always consider you my sister."

Without him... With him...

It was unclear what Qiao Muyi thought of, but she snorted softly and retorted, "Why should I be the younger sister? Just how much older are you?"

"It's a matter of who came first," Dong Chengling said with a smile.

Playing the emotional card!

In a flash, Qiao Muyi understood Dong Chengling's intention: definitely playing the emotional card! And she was also taking the opportunity to assert her status as the main partner, emphasizing that Qiao Muyi would always just be a 'sister'!

And this 'first come, first served'—isn't that implying I'm the third party?

You might as well just say your chest is bigger, so you're always right!

Chengling, you're learning fast!

Qiao Muyi snorted, picked up Ren Suo's phone to continue fiddling with it, and coldly said, "After Xiao Suo wakes up, you and I might not have many chances to meet again."

Faced with Qiao Muyi's coldness and threats, Dong Chengling didn't mind at all. With a serene smile, she took Qiao Muyi's arm and said, "Xiao Qiao, you didn't want me to go to the Great Wall just now, did you?"

Qiao Muyi hummed. "Why wouldn't I? After you get to the Great Wall, remember to leave a contact address. I'll send you a wedding invitation."

"Then why did you glare at me when I mentioned I was joining the Great Wall?"

"Do I need a reason to glare at you? It's because I despise you!"

"Xiao Qiao, I'm so glad to have you as a friend," Dong Chengling laughed. "Especially after that night you came to me and opened your heart, I feel like I've truly come to know the real you."

"We are rivals, not friends," Qiao Muyi attempted to push Dong Chengling away.

"Although that's what you say, even if you resent me, I will continue to consider you a friend..."

"It's the other way around; it's more like you resent me, and your Resentment will fuel my efforts to become stronger and more beautiful," Qiao Muyi stood up, not wanting to chat with Dong Chengling any longer. The longer she talked with Dong Chengling, the more likely she was to enjoy her company. If Qiao Muyi's negotiation skills started at 100 points, Dong Chengling's began at only 10. However, Dong Chengling's negotiation skills would gradually improve as she interacted with someone. The longer they spent together, the more easily the other person would be captivated by Dong Chengling's charm, and Dong Chengling herself would grow more accustomed to their interaction style, her skill rising to 20 points, 50 points, 100 points, even 110!

When speaking with others, Dong Chengling was always gentle and calm, yet she always bickered when talking to Qiao Muyi!

She couldn't give Dong Chengling any more chances to level up!

"Don't blame Xiao Yan," Dong Chengling suddenly said.

The departing Qiao Muyi stopped in her tracks. She looked at the guest room and after a moment of silence, said, "I don't blame her."

Apart from the students, Ren Xingmei and Lin Xianyu, the others had more or less guessed that Ren Suo might have been implicated by Gu Yueyan. It couldn't be the other way around. If Ren Suo were the primary cause, not to mention whether he would drag others down, even if he did, Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling, two high-level combat powers, were present. He would have definitely sought their help rather than choosing Gu Yueyan, a student who had just advanced to the second turn.

The same logic applied to Gu Yueyan. She probably should have sought help from Qiao Muyi and Dong Chengling as well. However, considering Ren Suo had previously thrashed her brother Gu Yuexuan, Gu Yueyan's choice of Ren Suo was not entirely unreasonable. Of course, Gu Yueyan's choice might have been influenced by many other factors, such as Ren Suo being the only male in the room at the time, or perhaps... her feelings for Ren Suo.

"That's good," Dong Chengling breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you might take your anger out on her, after all..."

Qiao Muyi smiled. "In your eyes, do I seem like the type of person who would misplace her anger?"

Dong Chengling nodded.

"Misplaced anger is for when you can't find the true object of your Resentment. But now, there is a target—just don't let me find out which bastard initiated this trial," Qiao Muyi said coldly. "As for Yueyan, she definitely didn't want to participate in this trial; she's a victim too. Regarding everything else, I've long known she likes Xiao Suo. I just didn't realize she still hadn't let go..."

"If they don't make it back alive, it won't matter whether I blame her or not. If they do return alive, I'll have no reason to blame her, as long as she hasn't done anything irreversible in a place beyond our reach..."

"Then I'll still treat her as a little sister," Qiao Muyi turned her head to look at Dong Chengling, tilting her head as she spoke. "Whether she likes it or not, I'm going to shatter all her illusions with reality."

"Younger Sister Muyi..."

"Oh, give it a rest!" Qiao Muyi suddenly exclaimed. "You purposely brought up this topic to make me play the villain, didn't you? You don't want to confront Yueyan yourself, so you figured I'd make her back down, right?"

Dong Chengling didn't deny it, admitting honestly, "I really didn't know what to do. I'm glad you're here."

"Whatever. You'll regret it at my wedding anyway," Qiao Muyi huffed and walked away.

「In the Dark Side of the Moon」

"So, let's get married today!" Gu Yueyan said earnestly.

"I want to as well!" Luna chimed in.

Ren Suo watched as Gu Yueyan and Luna each held a wedding dress in front of him, feeling his limbs and head go slightly weak.

"I've arranged for the grandest, most splendid Crystal Cathedral in California for the wedding," Gu Yueyan said, her face slightly flushed but her voice still firm. "It will definitely be fun!"

"I want to as well!" Luna echoed.

Ren Suo spread his hands, looked at the two of them, and said, "But there are two brides here, and only one groom... me."

Gu Yueyan bit her lip, resolutely saying, "But I absolutely must have the wedding today!"

"I want to as well!" Luna was equally firm.

Ren Suo pondered for a moment. "Well... there might be a solution..."

Just as Ren Suo was about to mention the "Warrior of the Night" Spell to summon a clone to save the day, Gu Yueyan glanced at Luna and, throwing caution to the wind, said, "Separately or together, either works! We absolutely must go through with it!"

"I want to as well!" Luna declared, clutching her beautiful wedding dress, her eyes sparkling like bright stars.